Plumber salary in France
Average monthly net salary in full-time equivalent in the French private sector, according to INSEE (occupation group “Plombiers et chauffagistes qualifiés”).
- Average net per month
- €2,161
- full-time equivalent, 2024
- Estimated monthly gross
- €2,730
- estimate with 2026 non-executive contributions
- Gap to the average
- -21%
- compared with all private-sector employees (€2,733 net)
- Compared with the SMIC
- 1.5 × the net SMIC
- 2026 net monthly minimum wage: €1,478
Source: INSEE, all-employees database 2024 (average net private-sector pay, full-time equivalent) · Data downloaded on 18 October 2026
Source: French minimum wage (SMIC) as of 1 June 2026 · Data downloaded on 18 October 2026
By age
| Under 30 | €1,912 |
|---|---|
| 30 to 39 | €2,191 |
| 40 to 49 | €2,267 |
| 50 to 59 | €2,291 |
| 60 and over | €2,270 |
Working as a plumber in France
Working as an employed plumber is not regulated, but firms expect a CAP monteur en installations sanitaires, a BP, the Bac pro ICCER or the titre professionnel « Installateur en thermique et sanitaire ». Setting up your own plumbing business requires a diploma in the trade or three years of experience. Handling refrigerant fluids (heat pumps, air conditioning) requires an attestation d'aptitude, and companies doing energy renovation that clients finance with public aid must hold the RGE label. Gas work follows strict safety rules, and many firms rely on the PG (professionnel du gaz) scheme. Search for « plombier », « plombier chauffagiste », « chauffagiste », « installateur thermique » or « technicien de maintenance chauffage ».
How to read these figures
The salary shown is an average, not a median: a few high salaries pull the average up. It is net pay before income tax, converted to full time.
The gross figure is an estimate: it applies 2026 employee contributions for a private-sector worker to the net salary. It leaves out bonuses, overtime and health insurance.
Salaries are from 2024 while the minimum wage is the 2026 one, so the comparison gives an order of magnitude.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the average salary of a plumber?
According to INSEE, a plumber employed in the private sector earns on average €2,161 net per month in full-time equivalent (2024), about €2,730 gross based on our estimate with 2026 contributions.
Does a plumber earn more than the minimum wage?
The average net salary for the occupation (€2,161, INSEE 2024) is 1.5 times the 2026 net monthly minimum wage (€1,478). Early in a career, pay is often closer to the minimum wage than to this average.